Essay Writing Skills

1st Year

Elaine McCarthy
10th of March 2016

Outline
Assignment Brief
Research
Structure and Outline
Academic Writing
Critical Thinking
Referencing
Learning Styles

Assignment
Annotated Bibliography & Essay
Summary
Completed
Essay
2,000 Words
11th of April 2016 by 9.30am
Submit hard copy to Visual Culture

Essay Question
Choose one image, object or thing
from Fine Art, Design, Media or the
everyday
Research academic resources
Discuss the work

Discuss?
1. Analyse a topics individual parts
2. Construct an argument
3. Arrive at a well supported conclusion
Understand key Essay Terms
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/essayterms

Break the Task Down

1. Detailed Description
Keep biographical information to a
minimum
Remember you have been asked to
discuss an image/object/ thing and
not an artist/designer
2. Critical Understanding
Three Main Points on issues raised by
image/object/thing

Description
Style of the work?
How was it made?
Appearance in detail
Who created the work?

Sen Hillen, Newry Gagarin

#6, 1992, photo collage, 46 x
30cm

How does it fit into the career of

the artist/designer?

Socio-Political
Context
When was the work created?
How does it reflect the social and

political climate of this time?

How does this work relate to the present?

Meaning
Theme of the work
The subject matter (if relevant)
Social and cultural meanings embodied in the work

Grayson Perry, The Adoration of the Cage Fighters, 2012, wool, cotton,
acrylic, polyester and silk tapestry, 200 x 400 cm

Audience/Viewer/Consumer

Who is the artist/designers intended

audience/viewer/consumer?

Display
How is the work displayed in the
museums/galleries/screens of the real world?
What context does this create for the work?

Other Work
How does the work connect to other
work and mediums of similar content,
narrative or discourse?

Research

You must use a variety of academic sources

This can include: books, peer reviewed journal articles,
published reports, reliable websites, films and
documentaries
Do not rely on one main source

Trustworthy
Source?
Recently dated
Published by a legitimate publishing company,
peer reviewed journal or website
Authors are knowledgeable experts
Academic writing: use of correct spelling,
grammar and proper terminology
Ideally use websites for your own understanding
and then reference other academic sources
No Wikipedia !!!

Reliable Evidence and

Sources

NCAD Library

http://www.ncad.ie/library/visit-us/

NCAD Online
Journals
http://capitadiscovery.co.uk/ncad
/

NIVAL
http://www.nival.ie/

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/

Essay Structure

Essay Construction
Your conclusion is the roof of
your argument. It seals your
essay.
The body contains the main
themes. Like the rooms of a
house, they are connected but
each has a different purpose.
The introduction is the first
layer
References form the foundation

Introduction

Start with a general point

Identify the image, object or thing selected

Identify the artist/designer
Grab the readers attention
Outline what will be discussed
Put forward a research question/argument
(this can be stated explicitly or simply
implied)

Key Phrases: Introduction

The objective of this essay is
The essay will focus on.
This essay will aim to answer the
question
This essay will attempt to examine
This essay will explore

Main Body
Describe/provide brief background
Outline main points
Backup points with readings
Paragraphs must be connected
Fulfil everything outlined in introduction
and support your planned conclusion

Key Phrases: Main Body

It is argued that
It is proposed that
The authors posit that
The authors assert that
In addition,.
Furthermore,
Significantly

Conclusion
Summarise key points
Reference the larger issue
Have you supported your argument?
Never bring in new information unless
making a point about future directions
in the discussed topic

Key Phrases:
Conclusion
In conclusion,
To summary
In consideration of this
Academic Phrasebook
http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Word Count
Introduction 200 words
Descriptive Background 400 words
Main Point 1 400 words
Main Point 2 400 words
Main Point 3 400 words
Conclusion 200 words
Total 2,000 words
Remember this is an example.
Adjust your plan to fit in all your key points.

Paragraph Structure
Each paragraph
Introduce
Backup with evidence
Summarise

Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are statements of
what a student should know,
understand or be able to do at the end
of a learning activity
Important to consider the Learning
Outcomes as these are the criteria you
need to demonstrate to your lecturers

Learning Outcomes: Research

Use an appropriate range of
academic sources that relate to your
topic and current practices in fine art
or design and broader cultural and
critical issues

Learning Outcomes: Analysis

Show a critical awareness of the influences in
art, design and culture which form the
foundation of visual and material production

Learning Outcomes:
Communication
Successfully communicate research,
analysis and initiative in coherent and
relevant forms. (expression, clarity,
spelling, grammar, punctuation.)

Academic Writing
Express yourself clearly and concisely
Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation
Structure essay into paragraphs and use
subheadings
Not overly descriptive
Minimal use of I, my, me
Explore, probe or question
Offers an argument, critique, judgment

Academic writing is not

about:
Long complicated words/sentences
Sweeping statements
Revolutionary original ideas
Opinion pieces or emotional accounts
Conversational writing style

Critical Thinking Skills

Knowledge: Identification of information
Comprehension: Organisation of facts and ideas
Application: Use of theory, principles and facts
Analysis: Separating a whole into its parts
Synthesis: Combining ideas to form a new whole
Evaluation: Developing argument & conclusion

Remember
Balanced argument
Reference experts
Be respectful
Make a constructive suggestion
Provide a recognition of the limitations
of your own argument

Struggling?
Look over your outline
Start with the bits you know
Have a chat with classmates
Ask tutor for clarification

Rules
Use UK spelling e.g. colour rather
than color
Double space your writing
Dont over rely on quotes
Use font size 12
Proofread
Reference

Proof and Edit

What to look for:
Relevant to topic?
Back up points - bring in expert
opinions?
Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation
Formatting
Referencing
Strategies: Spell-Check, text to speech,
swap with a friend, print out and doodle

Grading Structure

A Excellent
Theorised, generalised and
hypothesised in the context of the
area and other areas appropriate to
the question
Connections have been made both
within and beyond the essay question
Learning may extend current theory
Demonstrates questioning,
speculation and reflection

B Very Good
Analysed, evaluated and/or applied a
range of concepts to familiar and
unfamiliar situations, problems or themes
of enquiry.
Demonstrates integrated and
contextualised knowledge
Conclusions are complex and
demonstrate a depth of understanding

C Good
Demonstrates an ability to describe,
visualise, and or combine established
concepts and theories
Makes several varying relationships
and connections
Makes a few complex conclusions
Does not demonstrate a fully integrated
and/or contextualised knowledge

D Acceptable
Has met learning outcomes at
threshold level
Only a few simple relationships and
connections have been made
A deeper theoretical understanding is
lacking
A deeper contextual relationship is
lacking

E Fail (compensated)
Does not properly address the question
Does not properly fulfil the learning
outcomes
Demonstrated some disconnected
fragments of learning which make little
structural sense

F Unacceptable
Has not addressed the question
Has not fulfilled the learning outcomes

NG No Grade
No work was submitted
Student was absent from assessment
Work submitted did not merit a grade

NCAD Referencing System

Harvard Style

Why Reference?

Credit your sources

Demonstrate readings
Bring in experts opinions
Strengthen your argument
Avoid plagiarism accidental or not
Professional integrity

MARK AIRS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Quote
To directly use another's work/words
and acknowledge the source
Rule
Short quotations (less than 3 lines) in
quotation marks within the text
Long quotations (over 3 lines) indented in a
separate paragraph with no quotation
marks

Quotation
It takes a great deal of time and thought
to install work carefully. This should not
always be thrown away.Most art is
fragile and some should be placed and
never moved again (Judd, 1987, p. 35).

Paraphrase
To express anothers work/words in
your own words and acknowledge
the source
Rule
Never use quotation marks
Always cite in text

Paraphrasing
Judd placed a great importance on
the curation of work, remarking
that this process should take a
large amount of time and thought
to be done correctly (1987, p. 35).

Citations in the Text

Author
Year
Page Number
(Smith, 1990, p. 25)
Use citations wherever you make use of
an authors work either quotes,
paraphrasing or summarising.
Two authors (Smith and Blake, 2000, p.7)
More than three authors (Smith et al.
1999, p.100)

Image in Text

Fig. 1 Pablo Picasso Girl Before a Mirror(1932) Oil on canvas,

The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Bibliography
Placed at the end of your essay
List ALL material consulted
List it alphabetically by authors name
Follow NCAD Harvard Style guidelines
Citation software - Zotero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8SfO4N2OMc

Bibliography - Book
Author/editors name), (year of
publication in parenthesis), Title in
Italics. Place of publication: publisher.
Poyner, R. (1998) Design without Boundaries.
London: Booth-Clibborn Editions.

Bibliography
Chapter with Different
Authors

Author, (year in parenthesis), title of

chapter or essay then write in followed
by name & initial of editor/overall
author, Title in Italics. Place of
publication: publisher, page number(s).
Smith, P. J. (1997) British Art in the 1980s and
1990s in Murphy, B. (ed), Art from Britain. Sidney:
Museum of Contemporary Art, pp. 147-159.

Bibliography
Web Resource
Author/ editors name, (year in
parenthesis), Title in Italics. Place
of Publication: Publisher (if
ascertainable). Available from: URL
(Accessed: date)
Holland, M. (2004) Guide to Citing Internet
Sources. Poole: Bournemouth University.
Available at:
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk.library/using/g
uide_to_citing_internet_sources.html
(Accessed: 4 November 2004)

Bibliography
Journal Article
Author, (year of publication), title of
article, title of journal in italics,
volume number (part number), page
numbers of article.
Dawes, J. and Rowley, J. (1998)
'Enhancing the customer experience:
contributions from information
technology', Management Decision,
36(5), pp. 350-357

Bibliography
Film
Title of film (Year of Distribution)
Director [Material designation].
Place of distribution:
Distribution Company.
Macbeth (1948) Directed by
Orson Welles [Film]. USA:
Republic Pictures

Some Exceptions
No page number (just leave it out!)
Anonymous work - use title of work (Treasures of Art,
1990, p.84)
No author or year (website) - use title as author and
n.d. for year
If no main author (video or film) use the title
Exact year unknown (ca. 1750) or (n. d.)
More than one publication - use letters to distinguish
and list chronologically in bibliography (Smith,
1988a, p.1)

Where to Find the

Guidelines?

NCAD Website Visual Culture

http://www.ncad.ie/students/student-academic-information/visual-culture-programmeinformation/

Time
Management
The Organised Student
http://theorganisedstudent.tumblr.com/printables

Prioritise with to do lists

7th 14th March - Description
14th 21st March Main Point 1
21st 28th March Main Point 2
28th 4th April Main Point 3
4th 11th April Introduction and
Conclusion

Learning Styles

Visual
Thinks in images
Learn best through seeing. Need to see
your lecturer/tutors body language
May prefer to sit at the top of the class
to see visual information clearer
Learn best from visual displays such as:
colour coding, diagrams, mind maps,
illustrations and videos

Auditory
Learn best though lectures and
discussions
Benefits from reading aloud
Benefits from recording information and
playing it back
Benefits from getting oral feedback
May concentrate better by listening to
soft music while studying

Kinaesthetic
Learns well through interactive activities
such as field trips, games, using
software
May find it hard to sit still for long
periods
May become distracted by a need for
activity and exploration
Take regular study breaks
May concentrate better by chewing on
something while studying

Need Help?

Opening Hours: 9am-5pm Monday to

Friday
Email:
learningsupport@staff.ncad.ie